2011 HC100 + Coe Everest Challenge / fundraiser, October 1st

[ElHombre]

As most of you know, Henry Coe park (together with many other state parks) is slated for 'closure' in 2012. Therefore we decided to up the ante a bit for this year's edition of the Hard COEre 100. Yes, the good news is this insanity is on again, and the better news is, we've added the 'Coe Everest Challenge': the stretch goal is now to climb a Mount Everest worth of elevation gain (~29k footies) in one ride, and the idea is to motivate people to support the Coe Park Preservation Fund (CPPF) and raise some funds to fight the closure. Note: even if closure would be averted, I am convinced the funds will be used very well - such as for maintaining and building new trails - Paul / Sorcerer can chime in but the great work that has happened under his leadership of the PRA speaks for itself.

So far three usual suspects have signed up: Ratpick, Plymmer and yours truly. Our plan is to line up on Hunting Hollow Saturday October 1, 2011 at 6am, ride the 100 mile course (which is identical to last year), then try to regain consciousness, and throw in another loop with ~9k ft of climbing. I anticipate it will be a ~24 hour effort (if we manage to talk ourselves into carrying on).

Please either
(a) join us - for the 100 miler, part of it, or for the whole Everest enchilada.
(b) support the cause and spend a few bucks to help keep Coe park open for all to enjoy - check the Coe Everest Challenge site for details
(c) spread the word - we've made a.o. this facebook thingie

As for (a): any strong rider that has done for instance the Tahoe Sierra 100, Leadville or a similar 'hundie' should be able to do the 100 mile course - just remember this ride is fully unsupported, so in addition to being in shape you'll need to be highly self sufficient, preferably somewhat organized, count on being several hours slower than normal due to the extra weight/stuff to be carried around, and have a good sense of navigation / GPS skills (or alternatively, stick around with one of us the entire time). There are clean water sources at mile ~35 (HQ) and mile ~75 (Dowdy Ranch), with a number of opportunities to filter water in between - check the HC100 site for route and other details. Also: you'll either need to bring lights, or be very fast.

No Skyline35-patented spinning wheel to lure you in, but there will be (free) t-shirts for both the finishers of the 100 mile course as the Everest Challenge. It will show something like this:

Some stokage:

- XXC Magazine post
- last years HC100 thread
- Plymmer chasing Ratpick down Middle Ridge last year:

[TahoeBC]

No one can ride 29k in Coe

[ziscwg]

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

No one can ride 29k in Coe

I can with an ingenious idea

I lasso a bunch of those wild turkeys at the bottom of a climb. I attach the lassos to my bars and yell at the turkeys to fly towards the top. My weight should keep the bike on the ground and steering good. The turkey pull while they are flying should get me up there with way less effort.

[ElHombre]

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

No one can ride 29k in Coe

In the end it's only 5.5 miles... how hard can that be?

[TahoeBC]

Unfortunately for me I'm unable to ride straight up

[Axe]

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

Unfortunately for me I'm unable to ride straight up

Fortunately for you, it is all downhill.

[ElHombre]

The timing was unintentional, but the same day the Tarantula Fest takes place (at Coe Headquarters)...
meaning one could refuel with steak and marinated chicken etc.

[JL de Jong]

That's a lot of climbing, but Coe is calling and there are plenty of bail-out options, if it's too much (which it certainly is) I'll mark it down for now: Oct 1, 6am, HH, HC100 20k - forget the 29k for sure.

[rensho]

Let me see if I can get a geared bike together, as well as get some miles in before 10/1.

Someone needs to page JMS for this ride.

[Biking Brazilian]

This is in 2012, right? I seem to have misplaced my "Billy Blanks: Get Fit in 23 Days" workout tape.

[ElHombre]

Originally Posted by Biking Brazilian

This is in 2012, right? I seem to have misplaced my "Billy Blanks: Get Fit in 23 Days" workout tape.

They're closing the place in 2012, remember. Now is your chance - find that tape. I wouldn't recommend it, but eating Spanish beef also seems to help.

[Sorcerer]

El Hombre your plan is audacious!

You have my support.

The way things are for me, I will not be able to try this with you. I have grave doubts about being able to complete the 100. 14k is the most I've ever done in Coe in a single go.

This Saturday I'll be up at Coe HQ getting the tool trailer ready and doing some scouting for the coming trail work season. Trail maintenance and development in Coe remains my focus.

It's a 2nd Saturday this weekend BTW, but I've decided to punt it forward due to the heat, fire danger, and some conflicting events.

[BigLarry]

Completely Nuts

[TahoeBC]

Originally Posted by Axe

Fortunately for you, it is all downhill.

It's been downhill for me for at least 20 years


Yea Patrick looks like he's got another 9 K in him, should be no problem!

[ratpick]

I remember doing the final big climb at the end of the 100 mi last year, up Wagon Rd to the Phegley intersection, feeling quite exhausted. It's hard to imagine still having 45ish miles + 9K' to go at this point!

It would be really cool to have some riders joining us for part of the course. There are bailout points - for example, on our first attempt at the 100, we bailed out and only did 80.

If you've never experienced the joy of pushing your bike up Bear Mountain, this is your chance!

[Biking Brazilian]

Originally Posted by ElHombre

They're closing the place in 2012, remember. Now is your chance - find that tape. I wouldn't recommend it, but eating Spanish beef also seems to help.

"Closing" will without a doubt be a very, very loose term when the time comes. That's when a Coe IRC channel will come in handy, disseminating ride information via cloak-and-dagger.

If "Spanish beef" isn't an inside joke/reference, then I must go with Argentinian beef, the finest in the world, although Australian F1 is also up there. The latter keeps very well in a CamelBak, even after a 6-hour ride. Uncooked.

Oh, and I've submitted security clearance paperwork to attend this ride. Unfortunately, I'm in excellent Saratoga Gap/St. Joseph's/Almaden Quicksilver/Skeggs shape, but not Coe shape, which is equivalent to one climb up Lyman Willson.

[knobs]

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

It's been downhill for me for at least 20 years


Yea Patrick looks like he's got another 9 K in him, should be no problem!

Yup. I'm sure Ratpick will bring his army...

[Fast Eddy]

Originally Posted by ratpick

If you've never experienced the joy of pushing your bike up Bear Mountain, this is your chance!

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

I should also point out that the climb up Everest starts at Base Camp at 17598', so you guys are overachieving.

I'm pretty sure I couldn't do this ride with two nights of sleep included.

[ratpick]

My army will get me through this.. somehow!

[ElHombre]

Originally Posted by ratpick

I remember doing the final big climb at the end of the 100 mi last year, up Wagon Rd to the Phegley intersection, feeling quite exhausted. It's hard to imagine still having 45ish miles + 9K' to go at this point!

It would be really cool to have some riders joining us for part of the course. There are bailout points - for example, on our first attempt at the 100, we bailed out and only did 80.

If you've never experienced the joy of pushing your bike up Bear Mountain, this is your chance!

Yes, it would be great to have some more company - looks like JL and rensho may be up for it. Just in case you can't find enough shifty bits: I promise a unique shirt for SS finishers!

Many bailout options indeed; skipping the Dowdy Ranch loop gets you to ~80 miles. Skipping the Bear Mountain and beyond part to ~50 or 60 miles (depending on the route back). Heck, you could cut it to 10 miles by just riding home after the Timm descent .

[JL de Jong]

Wait, what did I sign up for? This was a 21+ hour ride last year. I agree with Big Larry on this. 12 hours is more than enough. After Mississippi Lake I'll take the shortest route back to HH or maybe even before going up Bear Mountain, depending on how hot it is.

[pliebenberg]

Originally Posted by Biking Brazilian

If "Spanish beef" isn't an inside joke/reference, then I must go with Argentinian beef, the finest in the world, although Australian F1 is also up there. The latter keeps very well in a CamelBak, even after a 6-hour ride. Uncooked.

I'm pretty sure El Hombre's "Spanish beef" is in reference to 3-time TdF winner Alberto Contador's claim that his positive drug test at the 2010 Tour was because of contaminated meat he'd eaten that was obtained from Spain.

For you guys that like really fresh beef these guys occasionally visit the park:

[knobs]

Originally Posted by JL de Jong

I agree with Big Larry on this. 12 hours is more than enough.

Reads like both Big Larry and JL are shootin' to finish the course with sub 12 hour times. Way to put the hammer down! There should be a T-Shirt for that too!

[ElHombre]

Originally Posted by knobs

Reads like both Big Larry and JL are shootin' to finish the course with sub 12 hour times. Way to put the hammer down! There should be a T-Shirt for that too!

I agree - but I will hold off the printing press for a while .

Btw, we really would like to finish the 100 miler faster; last time we had ~15.5 hours of riding time, and close to 6 hours of stopped time (!). I hope JL or others can deter us from slacking too much and whip us forward!

Mississippi Lake is certainly a good bailout spot: it's about 5 miles (mostly downhill or gradual) to Pacheco Camp, and from there you can take a beeline home in an hour and a half or so. But if it's not too hot and you still have energy left, why not try to complete the 100... what does the Leadville guy say, you can do more than you think you can?

I'm much less bullish on being able to complete the full Everest challenge though (the Leadville guy can say whatever he wants)...

[TahoeBC]

Originally Posted by ElHombre

I'm much less bullish on being able to complete the full Everest challenge though (the Leadville guy can say whatever he wants)...

No one can ride 29k in Coe